Otafuku: Joy of Japan, bu Amy Katoh. 2005, Tuttle. 192 pages. Condition=New. In English & Japanese.
"Amy Katoh explores the colorful world of Otafuku. Katoh traces Otafuku's roots and folk beginnings, showing her many delightful aspects and providing a magical glimpse into this charming and little-known corner of Japanese culture that is sure to enchant readers. This book is filled with more than 100 color photos of Otafuku images selected from the collection of hundreds that Ka ...click for details

Kokeshi, Naruko-kei, Miyagi Prefecture, by Takahashi Takeo. Birthdate=Taisho 5 (1916) July 26. H. 9.75 x Dia. 2.25 (24.75 x 5.75 cm.)
Dentou, or "traditional," kokeshi hail from the northeastern part of Japan known as the Tohoku region. Tohoku is comprised of Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Iwate, Miyagi, & Fukushima Prefectures. They are colorfully painted (or bare, in the case of one Nambu-kei kokeshi from Iwate) wooden dolls of female gender that have been around since at least th ...click for details

Kokeshi, Tsuchiyuu-kei, Fukushima Prefecture, by Jinnohara Kazunori. H.11.75 x Dia.1.75 (30cm x 4.5cm.)
Dentou, or "traditional," kokeshi hail from the northeastern part of Japan known as the Tohoku region. Tohoku is comprised of Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Iwate, Miyagi, & Fukushima Prefectures. They are colorfully painted (or bare, in the case of one Nambu-kei kokeshi from Iwate) wooden dolls of female gender that have been around since at least the Edo Period (1600-1868) and a ...click for details

Kokeshi, Yajiro-kei, Miyagi Prefecture, by Niiyama Keiimi (a rare kokeshi made by a woman.) H.12(30.5cm) x Dia.1.875(4.75cm.)
Dentou, or "traditional," kokeshi hail from the northeastern part of Japan known as the Tohoku region. Tohoku is comprised of Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Iwate, Miyagi, & Fukushima Prefectures. They are colorfully painted (or bare, in the case of one Nambu-kei kokeshi from Iwate) wooden dolls of female gender that have been around since at least the Edo Pe ...click for details

Kokeshi, Yamagata Tendou-kei, Yamagata Prefecture, by Kamio Keisaburo. H.12(30.5cm) x Dia.1.875(4.75cm.)
Dentou, or "traditional," kokeshi hail from the northeastern part of Japan known as the Tohoku region. Tohoku is comprised of Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Iwate, Miyagi, & Fukushima Prefectures. They are colorfully painted (or bare, in the case of one Nambu-kei kokeshi from Iwate) wooden dolls of female gender that have been around since at least the Edo Period (1600-1868) and ...click for details

Kokeshi, Tsuchiyuu-kei, Fukushima Prefecture, by Abe Ichiro. H.11.5(29cm) x Dia.1.75(4.5cm.)
Dentou, or "traditional," kokeshi hail from the northeastern part of Japan known as the Tohoku region. Tohoku is comprised of Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Iwate, Miyagi, & Fukushima Prefectures. They are colorfully painted (or bare, in the case of one Nambu-kei kokeshi from Iwate) wooden dolls of female gender that have been around since at least the Edo Period (1600-1868) and are still pr ...click for details

Kokeshi, Yamagata-kei, Yamagata Prefecture, by Kobayashi Seijiro. Birth date=Taisho 7 (1917) July 14. H.11.75 x Dia.2(30 x 5 cm).
Dentou, or "traditional," kokeshi hail from the northeastern part of Japan known as the Tohoku region. Tohoku is comprised of Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Iwate, Miyagi, & Fukushima Prefectures. They are colorfully painted (or bare, in the case of one Nambu-kei kokeshi from Iwate) wooden dolls of female gender that have been around since at least the Ed ...click for details

Kokeshi, Yajiro-kei, by Niiyama Shinji, Miyagi Prefecture. H.9.5 x Dia.1.25.
Dentou, or "traditional," kokeshi hail from the northeastern part of Japan known as the Tohoku region. Tohoku is comprised of Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Iwate, Miyagi, & Fukushima Prefectures. They are colorfully painted (or bare, in the case of one Nambu-kei kokeshi from Iwate) wooden dolls of female gender that have been around since at least the Edo Period (1600-1868) and are still produced and sol ...click for details

Kokeshi, Naruko-kei, Miyagi Prefecture, by Itou Shouichi. H.9.5 x Dia.1.875 ca. 1970-1980.
Dentou, or "traditional," kokeshi hail from the northeastern part of Japan known as the Tohoku region. Tohoku is comprised of Aomori, Akita, Yamagata, Iwate, Miyagi, & Fukushima Prefectures. They are colorfully painted (or bare, in the case of one Nambu-kei kokeshi from Iwate) wooden dolls of female gender that have been around since at least the Edo Period (1600-1868) and are still produ ...click for details

Miharu Hariko papier-mache doll of "Daiko Uchi Onna" (Dancing Girl Holding Drum.) Miharu Village, Fukushima Prefecture, ca. 2008. H.6.625"(17cm) x W.3.75"(10cm.) Excellent Condition.
Miharu-machi (town) is located just NW of Koriyama City in central Fukushima Prefecture. They say the towns name mi (3) haru (spring) comes from the fact that the three famous blossoms of spring; plum, peach, and cherry, bloom here in profusion. This colorful backdrop, along with a scen ...click for details